3 High Desert teens killed in head-on crash

JOHNSON VALLEY - Three High Desert young men, at least one still in high school, were killed Saturday night in a violent head-on crash with an alleged drunken driver.

Tyler Shane Correll, 18, of Hesperia was driving a 2001 Saturn sedan south on Old Woman Springs Road near Olvine Road in Johnson Valley when an unidentified man driving north in a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado allegedly tried to drive around slower-moving traffic and veered into the Saturn's path, colliding with the smaller vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Correll and two other males ages 17 and 18, were killed, according to the San Bernardino County coroner's website. It was not immediately clear if anyone else was in the Saturn.

The driver of the Silverado, whose name was unavailable, was immediately arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, authorities said.

As the news of the triple fatality began to filter through social media and news websites, friends of the three victims took to the Internet to express their disbelief and grief.

"Dam, I first saw it this morning and I didn't wanna (sic) believe it," posted a man who identified himself as Jhovanni Ojeda on the Facebook page of Ruben Ramos, who has been identified by friends and family as one of the three killed Saturday night. "I guess it's true my boy Ruben is longer here with us. ... R.I.P gee much love, you're in a much better place now.

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The name of the third victim was held, pending notification of next of kin.

Some friends of Correll - affectionately known as Doof - changed their Facebook profile pictures to ones of the 18-year-old Hesperian.

Many High Desert residents were outraged at what they felt was the senseless end of three young lives.

"I don't know why people have to drive that way," said Leticia Contreras of Hesperia. "They don't just do it out there either. When I go pick up my grandkids from school, if I'm not driving fast enough, people think it's just dandy to drive around, not even thinking about the kids who are already starting to walk home."

Contreras says she lives near one high school and at least two elementary schools and has seen many people driving recklessly.

"Sometimes I do see the police here and the crazy drivers do slow down, but as soon as they leave they go back to their unsafe driving," Contreras said.